Serengeti National Park

★★★ Serengeti — The Heart of Africa

The Serengeti is the most famous wildlife sanctuary on earth — and for good reason. Spanning 14,763 km² (almost as large as Schleswig-Holstein), it features an apparently endless savanna, home to the largest animal migration on the planet. The name comes from the Maasai: "Siringet" — "the endless land".

What makes the Serengeti unique is the sheer quantity and diversity of wildlife. Permanently living here: over 3,000 lions (the largest population in Africa), 1,000 leopards, 500 cheetahs, huge buffalo herds, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, crocodiles, and more than 500 bird species. Additionally, the millions of wildebeests and zebras of the Great Migration come seasonally.

The Serengeti was declared a national park in 1951 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. Together with the Kenyan Masai Mara, it forms Africa's largest contiguous savanna ecosystem.

The Great Migration

The greatest natural spectacle on earth: Over 1.5 million wildebeests, 400,000 zebras, and 300,000 Thomson's gazelles move in an eternal cycle through the Serengeti — driven by rain and fresh grass. The cycle:

• December–March: The herds are in the southern Serengeti (Ndutu Plains). Calving season: Between January and February, about 500,000 wildebeest calves are born. Predators (especially hyenas, cheetahs, lions) are highly active. Spectacular for photographers!
• April–May: Start of the migration north through the Western Corridor (Grumeti River). Crocodiles lie in wait.
• June–July: The herds reach the central and northern part of the Serengeti.
• July–October: THE highlight: The crossing of the Mara River in the northern Serengeti (Kogatende/Lamai). Thousands of wildebeests plunge into the crocodile-infested river — chaos, drama, struggle for survival. Breathtaking.
• November: The herds slowly return south, following the rain.

The Regions of the Serengeti

• Central Serengeti (Seronera): Excellent for predators year-round. Lions, leopards (at the Seronera River), cheetahs in the grass plains. Most lodges and camps.
• Southern Serengeti (Ndutu): Calving season Jan–March. Open grass plains, millions of wildebeests, predator action. Short grass = excellent visibility.
• Western Corridor (Grumeti): April–June. Grumeti River with huge crocodiles. Less visited.
• Northern Serengeti (Kogatende/Lamai): July–October. Mara River crossing. Remote, exclusive, fewer vehicles. The best region for migration experiences.